Help identify this Olympus Pen camera

[Karl K]

While on vacation in Japan, I purchased this Olympus Pen D2 in an Osaka camera shop a few months ago.

It was incorrectly labeled as a Pen D, even though it clearly says Pen D2 right on the front. Upon closer inspection, I discovered that this camera has the 32mm f/1.7 lens, which is only found on the Pen D3.

In fact, comparing my camera with a Pen D3, I can't find any difference, other than the name on my camera, which is marked Pen D2.

The front plastic finder housing, which says Pen D2, appears to be original, not added or exchanged or cobbled on. The 32mm f/1.7 lens also appears to be original.

Can anyone explain this strange Olympus Pen D2/D3 camera?

 

[eddie]

Have you checked the serial number against the manufacturing history? If it's late in the D2 run, maybe they finished off the line with the newer lenses they manufactured for the D3. Just a guess on my part.

 

[thuggins]

Have you checked the serial number against the manufacturing history? If it's late in the D2 run, maybe they finished off the line with the newer lenses they manufactured for the D3. Just a guess on my part.

This was pretty common at the time. Left over parts from the old model were used up so long as they would physically fit on the new model, or new parts were phased in at the end of the old model's production. I have seen several instances of that happening on Oly's.

 

[Karl K]

Thanks, Eddie and Tim,

I pretty much came up with the same thoughts as you did.
I just needed some corroboration.

So, it's not really that unusual to find these odd-balls?
Perhaps, but except for Leicas and Hasselblads, I haven't found these too often.